Thursday, September 16, 2010

Now THAT'S an information desk...

Two years ago, a fire devastated the building that housed the architecture library at the Delft University of Technology.

This year, the school has risen from the ashes.(Click here for a story on the new building that looks like a giant halfpipe.) And they've done something amazing with repurposed books that were partially salvaged from the old library: used them to build a new circulation desk.

My first thought, on seeing this, was: "How beautiful. How witty. I LOVE it." Then, my second thought was: "But how on earth will they keep it clean?" (My practical side is such a buzzkill. But seriously: people spill coffee. It happens. ) Nevertheless, I'm still in the "this is really cool" camp. Form and function and repurposing of materials combine here to create the embodiment of a favorite William Morris quote of mine: "Have nothing in your house that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful." What do you think? Cheers or jeers for the recycled book desk? If you need to see more pictures before making up your mind, Inhabitathas a slideshow, images by Ellen Forsyth.